Asurnaí

Built as a bád iomartha (rowboat) by Máirtín Casey (Máirtín Ó Cathasaigh) in 1914 on Mweenish Island, Carna, Asurnaí is approximately 22’ in length. She was built for Joe Conaola of ‘Siopa Joe Conaola’ at Mace Pier, Carna.

Asurnaí, which was then known as Bád Joe Conaola, was used to transfer goods and cargo from the Pride of Mace, into Mace Pier. The Pride of Mace was a 40’ long ‘nobby’ (large traditional fishing/ trading vessel) which was also owned by Joe Conaola. As well as her cargo duties, Asurnaí was used to transfer cattle to and from MacDara’s Island (Crua na Cara) during this time.

Cóilín Hernon (owner of the Nóra Bheag) bought Asurnaí in 1970 from Dara Folan (Dara Sheáinín Anna) in Loch Con Aortha, near Cill Chiaráin, Co Galway. During this time Asurnaí was known as Púcán Dara Sheáinín Anna.

After purchasing the Nóra Bheag, Cóilín sold Asurnaí to his brother Michael. Michael was a Marine Engineer working in Singapore, but sadly he passed away at the age of twenty-four after a short illness. The boat was left to his father, Páraic Hernon. Páraic went on to fully rebuild and restore the boat in 1988, the same time as his son Cóilín was rebuilding the Nóra Bheag. Asurnaí was relaunched in 1990 and set up with a gaff rig. Her first set of sails after the rebuild were a second-hand set off MP McDonagh’s Gleoiteóg Mór, ‘Claddagh’, which were recut to fit Asurnaí by Cóilín.

During summer 1991, Mike and Sue Fahy were with Cóilín, visiting Páraic in Ruisín na Mainiach, Cárna. They went for a sail on Asurnaí, after which Mike was so impressed, he offered to buy the boat from Páraic. The deal was done, and Asurnaí was on her way to the Claddagh to sail alongside her “stepsister” Nóra Bheag.

Mike and Sue Fahy named the boat Asurnaí as there is a well in Ballindereen (their local parish) called Saint Sourney’s well, beside Drumacoo Church. There is also a church on Inis Mór which is called Teampall Asurnaí, after the same Saint.

For a number of years, Asurnaí competed in the various local regattas across Connemara, alongside Nóra Bheag. Asurnaí has spent the best part of the last 25 years based out of Kinvara, south county Galway, where Mike and Sue enjoyed much of their casual sailing.

Asurnaí was kept in perfect condition, Mike was meticulous in his maintenance of the boat and rigging. She boasts her original mast, boom, and gaff from Páraic Hernon’s rebuild over 30 years ago. She also has some of her original stone ballast. The stones were granite, taken from Patrick Madden’s (Cóilín’s grandfather’s) old house on Feenish Island, Carna. While the hull of the boat itself has only undergone minor repairs over the years. The most serious of these repairs occurring when Éinde Hernon (son of Cóilín) fitted new gunwales, capping and weatherboards in 2010.

Earlier this year, Mike passed away after a long, hard battle with cancer. He and Sue decided to leave the boat to their godson, Cóilín Óg Hernon. Cóilín Óg has since honoured Mike and Sue’s wish to have the boat in the water and sailing this summer.